Timberville, VA

Timberville is a small town located in Giles County, Virginia. The population of Timberville was 1,849 as of the 2010 census. Timberville is home to a number of businesses and attractions, including the Timberville General Store, which has been in operation since 1881, and the Timberville Historic District.

The history of timber and lumber in Giles County dates back to the early 1800s. In 1817, James Gentry built a sawmill on what is now known as Gentry Creek near present-day Forest. The mill was one of the first in the area and produced lumber for use in construction projects throughout Virginia and North Carolina. By 1840, there were six mills operating in Giles County; three of these were operated by James Gentry.

In 1881, entrepreneur A.P. Richardson opened the Timberville General Store on Main Street in Timberville. The store quickly became popular for its wide variety of goods and services, as well as its location close to both downtown Timberville and the mill district. Richardson also served as postmaster for Timberville from 1895 until his death in 1916; during this time he established a reputation for being an effective leader who helped make Timberville into an important community center.

The timber industry declined rapidly after World War II due to advances in technology that made other materials more affordable and available on a larger scale. By 1970 only two mills remained operational in Giles County; however, by 2000 there were ten mills operating within commuting distance of Timberville (five of which are still operational). Today, timber production continues to play an important role within the economy of Giles County; however, most forestry activities are now conducted outside of town limits (in nearby forests such as Big Stone Gap).

The historic district located within downtown Timbervile was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 (NR 780005). The district encompasses approximately fifty buildings dating from the late eighteenth century through 1930s; many notable examples include Richardson's General Store ( NR 780004), which is considered one of Virginia's finest examples of Victorian architecture; John Witherspoon's Log House ( NR 780001), which is one of only two surviving log houses built west of the Allegheny Mountains during colonial times; and Samuel Sisson's Millinery Shop ( NR 780012), which features elaborate woodwork around its windows and doors typical of millinery shops from this period..